Red Wings Offseason

[Motor City Sonics]

Oh my goodness, some of my facebook friends are already calling this offseason an epic failure and the Wings playoff run will end this year. I am trying to remind these folks that none of the major free agents signed anywhere today. The Wings were adding depth guys - One was a backup goalie they needed (Joey has back issues), another was a depth forward that is very solid on the power play point (something they need without Nick) and the other is a nasty little gnat of a man that gets under people's skin, which we need since Homer and Maltby are done. These were all necessary moves and it doesn't take anything out of the equation with the big names.

Keep Calm and Carry On !




and before you say Jason Garrison is a major free agent - check yourself. He's a good player, but he's no star and I am expecting him to fizzle with the pressure in Vancouver...........

[lordstanley]

Oh my goodness, some of my facebook friends are already calling this offseason an epic failure and the Wings playoff run will end this year. I am trying to remind these folks that none of the major free agents signed anywhere today. The Wings were adding depth guys - One was a backup goalie they needed (Joey has back issues), another was a depth forward that is very solid on the power play point (something they need without Nick) and the other is a nasty little gnat of a man that gets under people's skin, which we need since Homer and Maltby are done. These were all necessary moves and it doesn't take anything out of the equation with the big names.

Keep Calm and Carry On !




and before you say Jason Garrison is a major free agent - check yourself. He's a good player, but he's no star and I am expecting him to fizzle with the pressure in Vancouver...........

Agree with everything you wrote. About the fans' reaction to this work-in-progress and also about Garrison, who got 6 years (!!) by the way. Bloggers like The Chief at Abel to Yzerman are stirring things up with their completely unrealistic expectations.

[lordstanley]

Maybe this is all a brilliant elaborate ruse by Suter and Parise. Go to free agency, keep their division rivals Wings, Pens and Flyers preoccupied with signing them for a couple of days as the market dries up, then sign with their original teams Nashville and NJ after all! Ha, that would be, uh, hilarious.

[drownwithyou]

Yeah, the Wisniewski contract is garbage, that's bad enough alone, forget about who they'd have to give up. I would trade Filppula, a 1st rounder and one of Smith or Nyquist for Nash alone but that's not enough for Columbus to accept.

For those who already dislike the Tootoo signing imagine if Suter says tomorrow: "Well, I had pretty much made up my mind to sign with the Wings, just as Kypreros tweeted. But when I found out they signed that little rat Tootoo, their salespitch about being a classy organization seemed like b.s., so I signed with Pittsburgh instead".

Forgot to include "to play with the classy Matt Cooke" at the end of your quote.

[Dawgs]

Im not upset with the signings on the surface. Well except for Tootoo. Hes not an agitator hes a cheap shot punk. Im upset by what this may mean for guys like Tatar, Nyquist, Murzak and Smith. If they get Suter and Semin and theres no trade giving up our young talent who have really high ceilings, Im ok with the offseason. Even if they dont end up with Suter and/or Semin, Im not happy but Im not pissed. Im worried Kenny is gearing up to trade our future for Nash in a win now move. Thats desperation. They wont win now with a move like that and our futures been traded to Columbus in the form of our prospects and any future high draft picks we have. Thats what will set us back a decade.

[Dawgs]

OTOH if they get Suter, Semin and Nash I will reserve judgement on the off season. Win a Cup or at least win the West and it was good. Dont win and my opinion is that it wasnt worth trading all our high ceiling youth for 2 to 4 years of remaining in the playoff race. This team needs to get younger and stronger. Not older and slower.

[drownwithyou]

Win a Cup or at least win the West and it was good. Dont win and my opinion is that it wasnt worth trading all our high ceiling youth for 2 to 4 years of remaining in the playoff race.

John Madden is that you?!

[Motor City Sonics]

TSN.ca is confirming that both Suter and Parise have woken up today.

[lordstanley]

OTOH if they get Suter, Semin and Nash I will reserve judgement on the off season.

If they signed all 3 which for sure they won't, that would be the greatest off-season in the history of hockey even if the Wings cleared out every player under 25 on their roster. Those 3 are all in their '20s and the four players you mentioned dream of becoming as good in a few years time as any of Suter-Semin-Nash. One of Tatar-Murzak-Nyquist-Smith might reach Semin's level if we're lucky, none are likely to approach Suter-Nash level.

[Shinzaki]

Yeah...landing a Suter, Nash and Parise at the cost of picks, prospects and cap space would be an insanely great off season. Villagers in Peru would be writing folks songs about Ken Holland's brilliance should that happen...

[KleShreen]

All over Twitter, it is being reported that Parise is down to Pens, Wild and Devils. Apparently the Devils were out until Brodeur re-signed? Seems illogical considering Brodeur will be there for what, one or two years out of Parise's inevitable 10-year deal?

Edit: Twitter also seems to be at pretty much a consensus that Suter is signing with the Wings.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

TSN.ca is confirming that both Suter and Parise have woken up today.

Was it confirmed by Bob McKenzie or Darren Dreger?

[KleShreen]

Someone on Twitter (@ugslick) is apparently saying that the Wings offered Suter 12 years/90 million.

Flyers apparently offered Parise 12 years/100 million and Suter 10 years/80 million.

[KleShreen]

@tpanotchCSN: from what I have been told: if it's strictly $$, Flyers get both Parise/Suter based on offers."

[lordstanley]

Was it confirmed by Bob McKenzie or Darren Dreger?

MacKenzie says a source told him Suter got up on the left side of the bed; Dreger claims that Suter woke up but only to go to the bathroom and is now back snoozing.

[lordstanley]

Someone on Twitter (@ugslick) is apparently saying that the Wings offered Suter 12 years/90 million.

Yes, I believe Chuck Pleiness of the Macomb Daily was the first to report that.

UPDATE: Wings GM Ken Holland: I Believe We're In Consideration For Both

[lordstanley]

I hope Parise doesn't announce before Suter does. Once the Flyers and Pens know they're out of the running for Parise (if that turns out to be the case), do they make a final push for Suter? Ironic given their 1st round series of pond hockey that both the Flyers and Pens seem to be most focused on landing a forward.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Did Matt Carle re-sign with Philly? Cause an off-season of Suter/Carle/Semin would be mighty nice. I'm hoping for Matt Carle, if he hasn't re-signed, as an in addition to signing, not a we missed out on Suter signing.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

MacKenzie says a source told him Suter got up on the left side of the bed; Dreger claims that Suter woke up but only to go to the bathroom and is now back snoozing.

Thanks for the conformation LS. I hope Ken Holland doesn't disturb him to the point that he turns off his phone.

[KleShreen]

@HockeyyInsiderr: On Suter, double checked the info. A bit too soon to say 100% confirmed, but really looks like he is Detroit bound. #RedWings

With that said...a couple different people are saying Suter is waiting on Parise.

As a sidenote: What is everyone's outlook on Suter? He's obviously a solid d-man, but I feel like he's being severely overpaid for. Is he even a top five defenseman in the game?

[juiceman]

TSN.ca is confirming that both Suter and Parise have woken up today.

What does Pierre McGuire say about this?

[Scottish caveman]

What does Pierre McGuire say about this?

He says , " Love the Pens and Ray Shero !!!!!!!!!!"

[drownwithyou]

What does Pierre McGuire say about this?

"I wish I woke up next to both of them!"

[lordstanley]

As a sidenote: What is everyone's outlook on Suter? He's obviously a solid d-man, but I feel like he's being severely overpaid for. Is he even a top five defenseman in the game?

I'd say he is. I don't think any d-man other than Chara or Weber is clearly better than him. I think Parise is the overrated one - I don't consider him a top 5 forward. Parise might be a top 10 forward. Maybe.

[drownwithyou]

Rumors are going around that the Wings are out of the Parise running, but they're only rumors at this point. They seem to be flying about every player going to every team, so I'm thinking of just waiting for any official confirmation before buying into anything.

[lordstanley]

What does Pierre McGuire say about this?

He said that Suter ate his breakfast cereal like a monster this morning.

[Hongbit]

I'd say he is. I don't think any d-man other than Chara or Weber is clearly better than him.

I hate to go grammar police on you but you've misspelled Doughty twice.

[Detroit Rock City]

Getting nervous waiting for these decisions. I think Suter is in the bag personally but I'm not holding out a lot of hope for Parise at this point.

[Nastradamus]

I'd rather get Suter and no Parise myself. I could be crazy but that's a lot of money locked up long term in Fs between Parise,Zetterberg,Datsyuk and Franzen. Plus these NHL deals are so freakin' long. I think we can fill our F void without getting Parise. Shoot I'd rather get Nash on the shorter commitment and hope you can get more out of him.

[tigerkid23]

I hate to go grammar police on you but you've misspelled Doughty twice.

I think Doughty is better than Suter too. My top 5 would be some combination of Chara, Weber, Doughty, Karlsson, and Suter.

Getting nervous waiting for these decisions. I think Suter is in the bag personally but I'm not holding out a lot of hope for Parise at this point.

The anticipation is killing me. The thing I'm most worried about is Parise making a decision first and then Suter following him.

[KleShreen]

I think Doughty is better than Suter too. My top 5 would be some combination of Chara, Weber, Doughty, Karlsson, and Suter.



The anticipation is killing me. The thing I'm most worried about is Parise making a decision first and then Suter following him.

A lot of people on Twitter feel that if Parise goes to Minnesota, Suter follows him. If Parise goes to the Penguins or stays in New Jersey, Suter is coming to Detroit.

[tigerkid23]

A lot of people on Twitter feel that if Parise goes to Minnesota, Suter follows him. If Parise goes to the Penguins or stays in New Jersey, Suter is coming to Detroit.

That sounds about right to me. I'm still holding out hope for the Suter and Parise to the Wings package, but I'm all in on Suter. Not signing him would be disastrous IMO.

[drownwithyou]

Not signing him would be disastrous IMO.

I think this is a bit extreme.

I'll be disappointed if the Wings don't get Suter, but I don't think it will break the team (if you hinge your team on one free agent you're doing something wrong anyways). With all this time before Suter/Parise signing I've had plenty of time to think up crazy stuff, including forgetting Suter and his potential crazy contract and trying to pry Tobias Enstrom out of Winnipeg (free agent next offseason, he's like a mini-Lidstrom in my mind). With the contract numbers being thrown around I wonder if signing one of these top two free agents will be cost effective in the long run.

[KleShreen]

I think this is a bit extreme.

I'll be disappointed if the Wings don't get Suter, but I don't think it will break the team (if you hinge your team on one free agent you're doing something wrong anyways). With all this time before Suter/Parise signing I've had plenty of time to think up crazy stuff, including forgetting Suter and his potential crazy contract and trying to pry Tobias Enstrom out of Winnipeg (free agent next offseason, he's like a mini-Lidstrom in my mind). With the contract numbers being thrown around I wonder if signing one of these top two free agents will be cost effective in the long run.

Concerning your last point, that's just the nature of the beast these days, I think. Every year for the rest of our lives, we're going to see contracts that aren't deserved in nearly every sport. Look at Roy Hibbert getting a max deal in the NBA or Jrue Holiday about to get one. It might not seem cost-effective now, but 5-6 years down the road, there will be a whole gaggle of terrible contracts out there that dwarf what Parise/Suter get now.

[lordstanley]

I am thinking of sending my daughter to knock on the door of Suter's farmhouse and ask for Ryan's autograph. I can then add the Red Wing logo and the contract terms to the princess notepad and get it to Holland to fax to the league office.

[drownwithyou]

I totally agree with what you're saying Kle. It is the nature of sports, "better" players will always justify getting higher salaries than what has already been given out, especially with the salary cap going up each year. But I think it does come to a point where you're not just accounting for inflation in contracts and making an unwise monetary decision. I'd just hate to "win" free agency by getting Suter and then having his contract cripple their salary structure because they had to keep upping their offer.

[tigerkid23]

I think this is a bit extreme.

I'll be disappointed if the Wings don't get Suter, but I don't think it will break the team (if you hinge your team on one free agent you're doing something wrong anyways). With all this time before Suter/Parise signing I've had plenty of time to think up crazy stuff, including forgetting Suter and his potential crazy contract and trying to pry Tobias Enstrom out of Winnipeg (free agent next offseason, he's like a mini-Lidstrom in my mind). With the contract numbers being thrown around I wonder if signing one of these top two free agents will be cost effective in the long run.

Perhaps disastrous was hyperbolic, but I'm not going to feel comfortable with Kronwall, White, Quincey, Ericsson, Smith, and Kindl as my top 6 defensemen. Enstrom or Yandle would be decent trade targets, but then you're going to have to give up assets that will detract from the rest of the team. Considering the drop off in free agent defensemen after Suter, the gaping hole on the blue line following Lidstrom's retirement, and the mountains of cap space the Wings have at their disposal, I'd say Suter is pretty darn close to being a "must sign" for the Wings. You're right though, there are other options and disastrous probably wasn't the right word. It would definitely be extremely disappointing to strike out on him though.

[KleShreen]

So *now* the Twitter-verse is saying Parise is down to the Devils and...Blackhawks. I think I'm just gonna stop watching Twitter.

[drownwithyou]

I don't get it. How do they have the room for Parise's contract? People are saying they would trade Kane, which makes sense with his partying, but I don't see all of this going down. But what do I know.

[KleShreen]

Also, in addition to that, the consensus from all the TSN guys seems to be that if Parise ended up in Chicago, Kane would be traded. That doesn't seem to make sense to me. Why sign Patrick Kane to trade away Patrick Kane?